Trekking in Wadi Rum

A few weeks ago we featured our partner ‘Wadi Rum Horses’. This week we meet Attayak – the leader of our team of Bedouin guides for trekking and scrambling tours in Wadi Rum.

About Attayak

“My name is Attayak and I am a Bedouin from Wadi Rum. I truly love the desert, I have lived here all of my life and I know it very well indeed. I work with an excellent team of guides; all of them are Bedouin from the local tribe and all of them speak good English -I cannot guide all the tours myself, much as I should like to. They are all anxious that you should enjoy yourself and see how beautiful Wadi Rum is.”

We will transfer you to Wadi Rum where you will meet up with your guide at Rum Village. Here the guide will then explain the planned route and make sure everyone is ready for the journey ahead. All trips will be supported by 4×4 Jeep to carry the luggage, tents, food and water and first aid supplies. The Jeeps will also be used to transfer you from site to site instead of long walks across the desert in between trails. Most of the scrambling and hiking routes take place on the old Bedouin Trails up and across the mountains, they take you away from the usual tourist areas. These trails are definitely for the adventurous traveller – Depending on the level of trek you have booked the amount of walking/scrambling each day varies, but be prepared for several kilometres each day. Also some days could be nice easy mountain walks, while others involve climbing up steep cliff faces (sometimes with ropes) and abseiling back down, make sure you check with us before booking to make sure you get the right trail for you.

Most of the over nights on these tours are done bivouac, where ever the guide decides is best. Tents are provided, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag.

Some of the sights on the trails

Jabal Rum

Was once known as Wadi Rums highest peak, now it is famous for mountaineers and climbers the world over for it’s bedouin trails, sandstone climbs and abseils. A typical trek is to scramble up, camp at the summit then abseil down the next day.

Jabal Umm Ad’dami

After crossing the no-man’s land south east for about 50 Km, you reach Jabal Umm Ad’dami. From the top you have amazing views of Saudi Arabia. This is an easy hike for those in reasonably good physical condition. But it is not on every route due to the distance from Rum Village. Only features on the longer multi-day trekking tours. In this area, keep a look out for the local Ibex (mountain goat) and Oryx.

Raqabat Canyon

Just east of Rum Village, a trek through this canyon takes you across two massives – Jabal Nassrani and Jabal Um Ashrin. Along the trail you will be amazed at what nature grows in the shade of the mountains.

Burdha Bridge

Easily the most famous site in Wadi Rum, a natural rock bridge approx 300 m above the sandy wadi floor, with some spectacular views from the top. There are several routes up, some are faily easy scrambles, others much more difficult. It can take 3-4 hours to climb to the bridge, but even longer to continue on to the summit of Jabal Burdha. This is definitely one of the not to be missed sites on a trek of Wadi Rum.

Barragh Canyon

Quite a way from Rum Village and not on your typical day tours, so usually not many other tourists around. But very popular place with climbers. You can choose to have an easy hike through the canyon (2-3 km) or your guide can take you along some of the easy scrambles or climbs.

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Hi Sameh, we are very grateful for your servicies.We are going to recommend to all the people we know and we will put our good opinion about you on several sites in internet like viajeros.com and tripadvisors.
Thank you for all and principaly for let us sleep when came from Petra to Aqaba.

Cesar & MariaSpain

We enjoyed our trip very much. The Dead Sea was awesome and the hotel good standard esp the buffet! Please pass along our thanks to all of the drivers who were so friendly and helpful…..they certainly made our stay memorable and the quality of their hospitality often surpassed that of the hotel staff.

Also I’d just like to assure you that we were not trying to be difficult at any point of the trip….it’s the first time that either of us have done an organised tour. We are both used to travel…

Saudi Arabia

I would like to thank you and Youssef or ( Joseph) for Help me to visit Petra. It was a great and nice trip. I want to visit Jordan again. It’s a Beautiful country, the Jordan people are very helpful and cheerful. Youssef is a great friend. He explained me about Petra, Jordan, culture, customs, religion. I would like to ask you, If possible, send me the full address of Youssef. I want to send to him a gift, present from Brazil.

Thank you,

Rondineli SilvaBrazil

Jordan and I wanted to thank you so much,
We had an amazing time. We are grateful that you introduced to Jordan and encouraged us to stay in Jordan for two nights. The diving was incredible in Jordan and sea star dive center and especially Jason our dive guide was incredible. Jason made our experience in Jordan one that we will never forget.
Thank you,

David OstermanIsrael

We were very happy about the trip. The ride was very confortable an most importantly always on time. We also appreciated the fact that you recomended a tour guide, he was very kind too and serious about his job.
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PamelaEquador

Jordan is an amazing country, and the Jordanians are very friendly people. We have used Above and Below Adventures several times while touring in Jordan. Good service, very reliable. Our driver this time (Faris) was excellent. I would definitely recommend them to others. However, I have 2 complaints with the service this time. The jeep tour in Wadi Rum was not up to quality with the previous times. Are you using a different agency? Our driver (not Faris) spoke no English and since ther…

Margie PeereboomUS

Thanks to you and your agency we wearing the most beautiful memories from our trip to Jordan. Our last night in Jordan,on Saturday, we bought a little gift for you in gratitude and stopped by your agency to say goodbye,but unfortunately it was closed.We would warmly welcomed your driver Said with whom we were in the desert and a two-day trip to Amman. We are active on social networks and online TRIPADVISOR and will write in detail our impressions of Jordan and will recommend your agency to…

Bojana Stojkovic and Teodora SpasicBelgrade, Serbia

We had an amazing time. Everything was excellent: hotel diving transportation.

Israel

What can I say about the part played in my special day by Above and Below. It was superb. Much credit must go to Sam who was delightful, friendly and so enthusiastic and willing I really felt that he was as keen as I was to get the pictures and achieve my last ambition. I do hope he retains some fond memories of the crazy Englishman, hope the pictures will help. Please pass a copy of everything on to him. I owe you my sincere thanks for your interest and organisation and glad we had a chance to …